Android TV boxes come in a wide range of shapes and sizes, although more often than not they look like chunky USB flash drives. Larger models have room for extra ports, but they’re usually unimaginatively shaped as flat square.
Enter the MK Z1, a new Android TV box which is shaped like a cylinder and which is large enough to feature a built-in Ethernet jack and front-facing camera.
The box features a Rockchip RK3188 ARM Cortex-A9 quad-core processor, 2GB of RAM, and 8GB of built-in storage, as well as 802.11b/g/n WiFi and Bluetooth 4.0.
Ports include an HDMI port, microSd card slot, micro USB port, 2 full-sized USB ports, a headset jack and a 10/100 Ethernet jack.
The MK Z1 runs Android 4.2.2 Jelly Bean.
Promotional images suggest that the unusual shape might have something to do with helping improve airflow — or maybe the arrow drawings just show where the vents are.
Either way, the shape is the most unusual thing about this Android TV Box, although the camera and Ethernet jack are features you won’t find on every device of this type.
The MK Z1 sells for around $98 on AliExpress.
via AndroidPC.es
the arrows kinda look like some kind of representation that there are speakers onboard, but they’d sound awful at that size.
Maybe it fits in a stand, and the idea is you get a bit more freedom directing the camera. &/ the board is vertical inside for improved (if a bit asymettric) cooling?
I own a couple of the Rockchip RK3188 Mini PCs and they do really well.
I don’t know about this form factor though.
I see a white box and I want it painted black…
Don’t like the huge arrows coming out the sides
More like “clunky USB drives” in most cases. Cords spidering out in all directions, darn thing falling down behind the TV, connectors being damaged from weight and cable stress, etc. However it is hard to see how this thing stays in place too. Seems silly to sit it on end, blocking the “speed holes” in one end.
I’d have gone the extra step and made it look more like the potted-plant Mac, but I guess lawyers…